Elderly Safety Tips for the Home
Kitchens are considered one of the most dangerous areas of a home, for children and for seniors. Many accidents and falls occur in the kitchen due to a range of common scenarios: cooking fires, grease and spills on the floor, reaching for objects, appliance injuries, inappropriate objects placed in a microwave.
You may wonder about that last comment, but many caregivers of individuals suffering from cognitive disorders or conditions will attest to the potential possibility of a parent to harm him or herself with the darnedest things. Keeping the kitchen a safe and secure environment for elderly safety isn't always easy, but it can be accomplished through a series of steps.
Tackle the kitchen one layer at a time: floors, cupboards, counter tops, appliances, overhead cupboards, etc. Look at the kitchen with a critical eye and realize that what may seem perfectly harmless to you may be a potential threat to your elderly father, who uses a cane, or your Mom, who's suffering from a cognitive disorder like Alzheimer's or dementia.
For elderly safety in the home be wary of dangerous objects and substances that you take for granted. This can mean anything from the blender on your counter to the cleaning supplies stored under the sink.
Instead of 'baby-proofing' your kitchen, consider elderly parent - 'proofing' it. Safety is the key issue.
As most caregivers of the elderly know, it is often very difficult to convince your Mom or Dad to change things. However, stress the importance of safety whenever possible. If your parent is suffering from a cognitive disorder, reminding him or her not to place canned goods in the microwave or be careful with the knives just doesn't work. It's up to you to unplug the microwave and to place the kitchen knives in a secured drawer.
Here are just a few suggestions on how caregivers may make the kitchen a safer place.
Caregivers should also check with local Elderly Community Services, the Alzheimer's Organization or AARP for additional resources on creating safe environments throughout the home.
Remove throw or scatter rugs from the kitchen floor – these are a major and ongoing source of elderly falls that often result in permanent disability for elders.
Many caregivers of elderly parents are hesitant to make such changes because they are afraid of hurting feelings. However, when compared to the alternative, it's best to be firm and make safety a priority.
A caregiver's approach to safeguard the kitchen area will naturally depend on the cognitive levels of his or her parent.
Nevertheless, ensuring elderly safety in every room of the house, not just the kitchen, is important for their. As many elders develop cognitive issues, it may be difficult for him or her to differentiate between safe and unsafe. That's your job as a caregiver.
Ensure that any room in the house, especially the kitchen, is 'elderly parent friendly' and will allow easy and safe access even for those using canes and walkers.
Modifying the kitchen may involve some time and effort, but in the long run, your efforts will pay off, not only for your elderly parent, but also for all members of the family.
It's not an easy task, but with a little planning and a developed course of action that may be initiated as increasing needs demand for elderly safety, you can help make the kitchen one of the safest areas of the house, and not the other way around.
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Dec 28, 20 12:23 PM
My mother is 93, in good health, no major heath issues, totally ambulatory. When my father died 6 years ago we found her a beautiful independent senior
Dec 28, 20 12:21 PM
So I lost my mom 18 months ago. After her passing I would come to my parents house to clean and cook a couple of times a week for my dad. He still gets
Dec 28, 20 12:18 PM
I came back home in 2004 to help my dad as he had cancer, he eventually passed away few years later. Well here I am am in 2020 still at home taking care